Been noticing a few things over this break and over this hair journey...

I'm not sure if my hair likes Pre-Poos. I could be wrong. But, for now, I'm officially switching to Deep Conditioning before Co-washes. I found a great DC mix that my hair loves (Lustrasilk, Honey, Salt, EVCO, Aloe Vera Gel). I rarely shampoo anymore and my hair seems to be happy. So here is my updated regimen:

Also, I experimented and found a great face wash that you can make from household items. Since the hair journey, my face has been extra oily from all the oils I use on my hair. I use Walmart-brand facial cloths to wash my face but wanted to find something a little stronger. I mixed

lemon juice, baking soda and salt

and made a thin paste. I used a cotton pad and applied it to my face. I let it sit on for a few minutes and then wiped it off with a warm wash rag, before doing a final rinse with cold water. I then mixed some of my aloe vera gel with my facial moisturizer and... voila! My skin looks youthful, bright and clean... almost like I have makeup on! I took pictures so they should be on Fotki in the next week.

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Trying Bantu Knots tonight... hope they come out good for New Year's Eve!

So, yesterday, after my LAST UNDERGRADUATE EXAM (yay!), I ran off to Big Lots hoping to find some new leave-ins and the Micanozole.

I got to Big Lots, with a big grin on my face, and went straight for the hair aisles. I walked to the basic one and than started wandering around for the mega-aisle that had all the great conditioners like the one back home.

Didn't have it! I was so disappointed!

Ah, well, I'm going back home tomorrow, so I'll stop by then.

I did manage to get some Anti-fungal for $1.50 (the main ingredient in Monistat), but it's actually called Tolnaftate. I googled it and saw that it actually had a pending patent for hair-growing agents.

Side effects? I noticed somewhat of a headache while applying the cream (think how your hair feels when you just get it braided) but it wasn't major i.e. didn't require a Tylenol. I also noticed that this tube of antifungal is only 1% when most of the ladies had been using 2% or 4%. Also, the itching that I had experienced since my last perm has gone away. Anti-fungals are purposed to relieve anti-itching and burning.

I don't know why so many people find it weird to put it on their scalp. It's prescribed to go on other topical areas (your little lady down there and your feet and skin!). Your scalp is skin! I do feel like I'm "cheating" on this healthy hair journey. But I want SL hair by May... and, dang-it I'm going to get there! I'd like to find some MN with no mineral oil or petrolatum though!!

Anyway, finally co-washed today. The last time was Saturday. I wanted to try the cayenne pepper mix because in all honesty I did notice some thickness where I used it at. I thought hair there would NEVER grow or change because I use to scratch the mess out of it in my high school days. The hair was literally half an inch long on the crown of my hair (a big patch of it in that area, actually). Now, it's mostly about an inch long (still a few really short parts) and the hair is way thicker...

Anyway, I was reading on LHCF about coffee adding circulation the hair? LOL... I won't knock it till I try it, but I'm not wasting my Folger's on chance. And the circulation talk got me thinking about the cayenne pepper that I had bought and only used once.

Cayenne Pepper mix:5 parts CP1 part coconut oil

Then I just mix it up and try to have a paste consistency (really really thick). I apply it to my nape, the crown, and my front hairline. I spritzed my Aveda Rosemary Conditioner (diluted w/ Water) and did a quick scalp massage, baggied, and studied.

I also made a garlic powder paste and applied it to my ends (yes, I was walking around smelling like a steak restaurant!) But when I used GP last time to stop the mega-tek shedding, I loved the way it left my hair feeling. I've noticed a little more shedding this week than usual (probably because I failed to moisturize last week). I applied my Isoplus orange oil conditioner and baggied. Left it on for about 2 hours.

I'll have to research it, but that GP really makes my hair thicker, softer and instantly stops the shedding. I found a few hairs in my shower comb, but they all had "white bulbs" which I read somewhere is a good thing.

HAIR HATER APPROVES OF HAIR

My mama is my #1 hair hater! She's just a skeptic in general but has always made sure to assure me my hair is horrible and just will never grow. Well, a few days ago she came up to visit. I had my half-wig on, but took it off when we got inside my apartment, and had my hair in 2 pig tails LOL. I had been moisturizing and sealing with the coconut oil this week, so my hair was fresh! She noticed that it HAD gotten longer (she said I was imagining things when I told her T-giving wkkd that my hair had grown). And she noticed it was softer and looked way healthier. I'm still trying to get her to believe that Traycee's hair is real... but that's a whole 'nother issue.

VA-JAY-JAY CREAM?

So... I wanna try monistat! I've been reading about it on LHCF and since it's supposedly only $1 some places... why not? Those girls were saying there hair grew like crazy. And I am determined to have my full bob by May 3 2009 [graduation!!] They said some of the side effects were shedding (oh no... another mega tek?) and headaches (eww!). A few ladies talked about the embarrassment of buying the cream... but uh, I don't care! As long as the cashier's female LOL Idk, though, cause some guys probably don't know what it is... Anywho, I'll probably pick some up Friday... AFTER WORK... AFTER MY LAST UNDERGRADUATE EXAMS!!!!!! yay Take some before pics and be on the lookout for shedding...

So... I'm a college student. And I work on a budget. Throwin' a healthy hair journey into the mix was a bit of a challenge cause I'm broke. And a lot of times I'm in Sally's trying to decide if I want to eat this week or take care of my hair. lol It's not that bad :) But overtime, the conditioners, brushes, products, etc can add up.

So, I just about hit the JACKPOT of all hair products Thanksgiving Day weekend. I was actually at Big Lots to return a product (VO5 deep conditoner) because I read on its label, after I bought it, that it has protein. I don't need any more protein products (had enough overloads as it is).

Anyway, so I wander over to the hair aisle after my return. I see a few items but nothing strikes my interest. I go an aisle over the shampoos/conditioners/body lotion (their aisle setup is so weird! lol) and ...HEAVEN! Huge bottles of shampoo's and conditoners with GREAT ingredients for really cheap. I didn't see anything over $5 and these were huge bottles... like the one's you see in BSS's for "salon use only".Various oils, no harsh sulfates, etc

I didn't want to become a product junkie so I'm trying to finish off a lot of the products I currently own before I feed my PJism at Big Lots (probably this Saturday). I've really become attached to my Aveda Rosemary Mint Conditioner. I dilute it with about 2 parts water and use it as a leave-in. It has rosemary, peppermint, jojoba and several other oils and I usually apply it to my new growth/scalp and massage it in; leaves my hair so soft.

I'm running low on the Aveda RMC and it's retail value online is $10. I found an Aveda supplier near my hometown, but don't think I'm willing to pay $10. So hopefully I'll find a good knock off at Big Lots.

I also need a Deep Conditoner and want to try Aubrey's Organic's Honeysuckle Rose Conditoner or find a cheap knock-off at Big Lots. Click here for ingredients

If you have a Big Lots near you, I'd suggest going! And if you strike gold somewhere else for cheap, let me know!

SHEDDAGE

I lost some hair after I neglected to moisturize for a few days AND didn't wear my scarf at night. In my defense, it's finals week! I've been studying like crazy and not getting enough sleep. But after my friend mentioned how dry my hair was on Friday, I moisturized on Saturday. My hair was HARD and breaking off so bad!!!!!! I made sure to moisturize and have been keeping up with it since but definitely a set-back for my hair growth

I've been "listening" to my hair recently ... and it seems like I got good ears! lol

I had to flat iron my hair 2x this week... once for my friend's birthday dinner and the second for my senior pictures.

I "deep conditioned" before flat-ironing the first time. Actually, I just used Aphogee 2-minute reconstructor and left it on for about 20 minutes and rinsed. Then conditioned with VO5 peaches & milk conditioner.

I noticed a lot of build up on my scalp, but continued on to my leave-ins. Let the hair dry a little, and used the heat protectant.

Yesterday, I needed to flat iron for the pictures. But I noticed my hair was looking kind of dull and weak. So the night before I used my clarifying shampoo (no i didn't pre-poo, but PP's aren't seeming to do anything for me). I pooed 2x, then still felt that "weakness" in my hair. I decided to try the IC Fantasia protein deep conditioner... the one I used for my very first DC that made my hair extremely hard. I was a little scared because I didn't want hard hair. So I used a little less than normal, and concentrated on my ends. I put a cap on for about 5-10 minutes and rinsed. HEAVEN! My hair felt so strong and soft. I co-washed and got out of the shower. Leave-in's and wrapped.

So now I know that particular DC is good when my hair is "weak" or has been flat ironed a lot.

I have a question. My scalp is STILL having a lot of build up, even after the clarifying poo. It doesn't itch or anything but it's really flaky. Any tips on how to poo to get them out? Or products... or anything??????????